SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY
POLITICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM
307 Gilkey Hall  Corvallis, Oregon 97331-6206
Telephone: 541 737 2811 Fax: 541 7372289
POLITICAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIPS FOR CREDIT
All students majoring in Political Science are required to complete an internship which can involve
working with state, federal, and local officials, in law offices, and with national and international
organizations.
An internship has two components: PS 410, which can involve from 2-12 credits, and PS 406, for two
credits, involving reading and writing assignments. Only four credits of PS 410 may be applied to the PS
major; additional credits can apply toward general upper division requirements needed for graduation.
Minors in Political Science can apply up to six credit hours toward their departmental requirements.
There are several ways to get an internship. You can create it through personal contacts in an area of
interest; check the bulletin board outside the PS office for an extensive list of internship opportunities,
and check our online source list; or brainstorm with the Internship Director, Kathleen Stanley. Your
internship must be approved by the Internship Director in order for you to sign up, and earn credits.
You need to meet with the Internship Director the term before you want to do an internship. If you
already have an internship opportunity, meet with the Internship Director to complete the necessary
paperwork to receive credit. If you do not have an internship, meet with the Internship Director to discuss
ways to get one. Before you meet with the Internship Director, you need to watch a brief video clip about
internship requirements which can be found on the Political Science internship webpage at:
http://oregonstate.edu/cla/polisci/advising/internship/.
THE INTERNSHIP PROCESS
1. Secure your internship and get the Internship Director’s signature to sign up for course credits.
Contact MUST be made with the Political Science Internship Director before approval will be granted
for registration. Political Science office staff will then remove the registration block, which will
allow you to register for the internship credits. You must then register for these credits.
2. Sign up for PS 410 for a maximum of 12 credits (only four credits can apply toward the major) and
PS 406 for two credits. Kathleen Stanley will serve as your instructor for both PS 410 and PS 406,
and she will provide you with your reading and writing assignment for PS 406. PS 410 is now
ungraded and you will receive a grade of S/U. You will still receive a letter grade of A-F for the PS
406 paper.
3. Students can receive one credit of PS 410 for every 30 hours of work completed at the internship.
Students should enroll in PS 410 and PS 406 during the terms in which they have an internship. It
may be the case that your internship work schedule does not correspond with the academic calendar
(for example, you might work August through November on a political campaign). Don’t worry
about this; see the Internship Director about when to sign up for credits.
Form 1 of 10
Rev. 02/01/12
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INTERN
A. During the first week:
Complete the Intern/Sponsor Agreement with your sponsor, and return it to the Political Science
office.
B. Journal:
Throughout the internship keep a journal. It is a forum in which you can record your daily activities
and accomplishments, but more importantly, perceptions, reactions, and insights you might have as a
result of your workday experience. You should use the journal to reflect on new ideas or insights that
you have; to elaborate on some aspects of your internship experience; and to engage in a critique of
your education by making connections between your coursework, your life experiences, and your
internship experience.
The journal is confidential, and will not be shown to your sponsor. You should pursue this task of
journaling diligently, i.e., the journal must contain more than a list of daily activities.
C. Mid-Term Evaluations:
Complete an Intern’s Mid-Term Self-Evaluation, compare it with your Sponsor’s Midterm
Evaluation, have the sponsor sign both forms, and return them to the Political Science office no later
than halfway through the internship.
D. During your last week:
 Give the Sponsor’s Final Evaluation form to your sponsor with a request to complete and return
it back to the Political Science office.
 Complete the Intern’s Final Self-Evaluation, and return it to the Political Science office no later
than Monday of finals week.
 Turn in your journal.
 Turn in your PS 406 assignments unless you have arranged for an incomplete with the Internship
Director.
DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE STAFF OR THE
INTERN DIRECTOR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR DIFFICULTIES.
POLICY ON INCOMPLETES
1. Remember that no grade will be assigned in PS 410 until you complete PS 406 requirements.
2. Incompletes are an option for students who make satisfactory progress, and find themselves in
circumstances that preclude them from finishing the work on time.
3. Incompletes are only given after consulting with the Internship Director. In order to receive an
incomplete you must contact the internship director and provide a written explanation of why the
incomplete is needed and a time frame for completion.
4. The student has one calendar year to finish the class. If the student fails to complete the work within
one year, the grade will automatically become an “F.”
Form 1 of 10
Rev. 02/01/12